NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio – City Council appears ready to put the brakes on a request from Westlake to increase the speed limit along Stearns Road, north of Lorain Road.

Council's Public Safety, Health and Welfare Committee Tuesday night recommended 2-0 that council reject increasing the speed limit from 35 mph to 45 mph along the stretch of road between the Westlake border and Lorain Road.

Committee member Angela Williamson was absent.

Council members Mary Ellen Hemann and Kevin Kearney, who are not committee members but attended the meeting, said they planned to vote against the speed limit increase when it comes before the full council. Council President Nicole Dailey Jones, who is not a voting member of council, said she would encourage council to vote against the measure.

Why is council considering the increase?

Safety-Service Director Donald Glauner brought the ordinance before the committee, saying Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough asked North Olmsted about making the change. Clough wants to increase the speed limit for a 1.5-mile stretch of Stearns Road from Center Ridge Road in Westlake to Lorain Road in North Olmsted. Westlake had received numerous requests to increase the speed limit, Glauner said.

The road is four lanes, two in each direction, and has limited access along that stretch, Glauner said. The property is undeveloped and sound barriers run along most of the road to protect neighbors whose properties abut the road.

Council raises concerns

North Olmsted council members expressed concerns about the safety of increasing the speed limit.

"What advantage would a traveler have increasing their driving speed by 10 mph for 1.5 miles?" Councilman Paul Barker asked.

Barker said police over the past year wrote more than 65 tickets for motorists traveling an average of more than 50 mph in the 35 mph zone. If the speed limit were increased, Barker said motorists likely would drive even faster.

"I really don't see any benefit to adding 10 mph to such a short stretch," Councilman Louis Brossard said, echoing Barker's comments.

Brossard added it could be confusing for motorist to suddenly increase their speed by 10 mph for a 1.5-mile stretch and then have to slow back down to 35 mph.

Jones said she opposes the change because of concerns from neighbors, some of whom attended the committee meeting.

Residents speak against the change

Madeline Brookshire, a Hampton Drive resident, said her property backs up to the road. She lived there before the road was built and said it has affected her quality of life. She said a higher speed limit likely would mean more noise.

"North Olmsted residents are as important as Westlake residents, and I don't think we should get dumped on," she said.

Kevin McDonald, president of the West Park-Forest Ridge Civic Association, said his homeowners group opposes the change. They represent 382 homes on 11 streets, many near Stearns.

"Deer cross that road quite frequently," McDonald said. "If you increase the speed limit, you increase the speed at which cars would hit the deer."

Dan Chambers, owner of Chambers Funeral Home, also questioned the safety of increasing the speed limit. He was concerned about motorists rushing through the Lorain Road intersection, saying the sound barrier creates a blind spot.

"It may seem strange that a funeral home is showing concern, but we see a lot of close calls," Chambers said.

One councilman favors increasing the speed limit

Councilman Paul Schumann was the only member of council supporting an increased speed limit.

"The reason people are going 50 mph now is because there is nothing there for 1.5 miles," he said. "It is like the natural speed limit. I don't see it as a big deal."

Council expects to vote on the speed limit change at a Sept. 2 meeting.

Glauner said it was unclear whether Westlake would move forward with increasing the speed limit along its 0.7 mile stretch of Stearns Road if North Olmsted fails to follow suit.

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